Key holder



Aug- 2, 1966 H. H. CAMPBELL 3,263,464

KEY HOLDER Filed May 4d 1964 2 Sheets-Smet l INVENTOR.

Aug- 2, 1966 H. H. CAMPBELL 3,263,464

KEY HOLDER Filed May 4, 1964 2 Sheets-Smet 2 United States Patent O 3,263,464 KEY HOLDER Henry H. Campbell, 4469 Vicliff Road, West Palm Beach, Fla. Filed May 4, 1964, Ser. No. 364,720 6 Claims. (Cl. 70-456) This invention relates to key holder construction and particularly to a novel form of key holder which is simply constructed, effective to maintain a key in both a retracted position and in position for use in conjunction with any particular for-m of lock.

The holder in addition provides novel means for maintaining the key in any given position yand to permit the emplacement on or removal from the key holder of a key or series of keys, the key holder likewise being adapted to support in the various positions a number of keys in o-ne form or another.

With the -foregoing in mind, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a key holder in which a key holder body is availed of, and the key holder body is in turn connected with various instrumentalities which will facilitate .the engagement of a portion of the same with 'a key, the locking of the key in place with-out any loose pieces, and in addition a means to maintain a key in position so that it is available for use in a lock with the movement of a single hand so to speak.

The principle of this invention is also adapted to incorporate into various forms and as such is set forth in the specification appended hereto and disclosed in the drawings in its various forms, the preferred form being illustrated in detail and shown in figures wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, illustrati-ng the various elements of one 4form of the key holder.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view showing a key in place in the key holder and preliminary to locking interengagement therewith.

FIGURE 3 is a View similar to FIGURE 2 showing the key, and in fragmentary manner the positioning of the same with respect to a holder as constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 4 is a plan View of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary View illustrating the latch area of the key holder body.

FIGURE 6 is a View taken about on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5 looking in the direction oif the arrows.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing a portion of the latch member and the construction thereof for purposes which will be explained subsequently.

FIGURE 8 is 'another form of key holder availin-g of the construction hereof, to which a 4greater number of keys may be connected and carried in both extended and retracted positions with relation thereto, with slightly different latching instrumentalities availed of.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 8, illustrating the latching instrumentalities in fully latched position.

FIGURE 10 is a top plan View of the disclosure in FIGURE 9 illustrating a key in position and the relationship of latching instrumentalities for additional keys.

FIGURE l1 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken about on the line 11-11 of FIGURE l0 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 12 is `an enlarged perspective View showing one of the latch members of this particular form of the invention.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 to 7 inclusive initially, the holder body is generally designated 1 and comprises an elongated relatively narrow strip of material which may preferably be metal or the like, having at its central portion a spacer 2 and connected by means of a suitable ICC rivet such as 3 with `a latch carrier 4 of substantially identical configuration to the holder body 1 and of springy construction in this case perhaps of steel or the like, and in addition a key positioner 5 is provided, likewise of similar form and conguration and also of spring steel construction for example for purposes which will be explained 'as this description proceeds.

At opposite ends the construction of the key holder hereof is substantially identical and therefore the like parts will be designated by like numbers, and initially reference is made to the left hand lportion of FIGURE l wherein a latch member generally designated 6 is disclosed, having a round flat head or control part 7, connected as illustrated in FIGURE 7 with a post 8 which is of such a size yand length as will be susceptible of insertion in the usual opening provided in a key or the like, the post 8 having a necked down portion 9 thereon just beneath the control part 7, so that this necked down portion 9 may be movable back and forth in a suitable elongated opening 10, as illustrated in FIGURE 4, for purposes which will be explained.

The post 8 has at its lower end a latching portion 11 which likewise includes a necked down portion 12 adapted to effect the latching action which will be explained subsequently likewise.

The holder body 1 is provided with the latch area as indicated in FIGURE 5, consisting orf `an opening 13 of sufficient diameter to permit the insertion of the post 8 therethrough, about as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3, with a shouldered part or section 14 located outwardly or toward the end 'of the holder body 1, -this shouldered portion 14 having inner diameter 15 which is about the same diameter as the necked down portion 12 of the post 8. Since the necked down portion 12 will thereby be positioned in the area enclosed by the opening 15, the same will be retained in conjunction with said opening by reason of the shoulder 16 below the necked down portion 12.

It will be understood that by manipulation of the control part 7 back and forth in the opening 10, that the necked down portion 12 may be positioned alternately in the opening 13 and in conjunction with the opening 15 be retained therewithin. The lopening 13 is preferably arranged inwardly with respect to the opening 15 so that the normal tendency of the key to be displaced from the post will be counteracted bythe end of the opening 10 and the interaction of the necked down portion 12 and opening 15.

Since the latch carrier 4 is of resilient nature, and normally is caused to lie about -in the position illustrated in FIGURES l and 3, without more when the key is emplaced as illustrated in FIGURE 3, the key will not be subject to falling off the key holder, irrespective of whether or not the latch member 6 is in its latched position. The insertion olf a key in the holder is effected as illustrated in FIGURE l by using the thumb or finger to raise the latch carrier 4 into the position illustrated in dotted lines in Isaid ligure, and thereafter the key ls positioned as illustrated in FIGURE 2 and the resilient nature of the carrier 4 causes the member 6 and post 8 thereof to move into the position illustrated in FIGURE 2.

Thereafter the member 6 may be manipulated so as to move the same into latched position as will be apparent.

In addition to main-taining the key such as is denoted A in connection with the key holder, it is desirable to maintain the key in position whether in its inwardly folded condition or outwardly extended as illustrated in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4.

To the foregoing end, a suitable key positioner 5 heretofore mentioned, is provided, and includes a main portion 17 and a downwardly bent extremity 18, the extremity 18 being provided with an elongated opening therein, which is about in line with the opening so that the post 8 of the latch member 6 may extend therethrough.

It is noted that the key positioner 5 being of the springlike nature mentioned, is arranged so that it will engage with the upper face of the key A about as illustrated in FIGURE 2 when the key is properly manipulated with respect to the key holder as a whole by the finger as suggested in FIGURE 1.

By reason of the fact that the extremity 18 of the positioner 5 is in contact with the key and exerts considerable frictional pressure thereon, the key A will be maintained either in its inwardly folded position or outwardly extended as illustrated in FIGURE 4 for example.

Irrespective of where the latch member happens to be positioned at any given time it will also be understood that the key cannot be withdrawn from its position on the holder unless the linger operation suggested in FIG- URE 1 is resorted to because the post 8 always extends into the opening in the key irrespective of Whether in latched or unlatched position.

Another form of key holder is illustrated in FIGURE 8 and in this particular instance comprises a main body 20 with pairs of carriers 21 and key positioners 22 of similar configuration to the corresponding parts in the lrst described form, with a latch member which will be designated 23, all the latch members disclosed in this particular form being identical.

Centrally the various parts are maintained in connected position by a suitable rivet such as 24, and the manipulation of the various parts is identical to that of the first described form, the latch member 23 including a post 25, a necked down portion 26 and a cam part or section 27 adjacent said necked down portion 26.

This cam portion 27 is shown more clearly in FIG- URE 12 as including a latching lobe 28 with one disposed oppositely thereto and designated 28 of identical configuration. These constitute the latching portion of the latch member 23 as will be readily appreciated, and the body 20 in this instance is provided with an opening generally designated 29 which is adapted to receive the latching portion 27 when the member 23 is in one position with the lobes 28 for example in a transverse relationship, and thereafter by rotation of the latch member 23, the lobes 28 may be brought under a shoulder 30, as illustrated in FIGURE 11 so that the latch member 23 will not ordinarily be subject to displacement therefrom.

It will be noted of course that the post is provided with a necked down portion 31 as is the member 6, this necked down portion 31 being received in a corresponding opening at the end of the latch carrier 21 so that under any conditions after once assembled the member 23 will not be susceptible of displacement from the carrier 21 and yet be rotatable with respect thereto as by means of a suitable slot 32 in the head of the member 23.

The key positioner 22 serves the same function in this particular form as the positioner 5 previously mentioned and manipulation of the carrier 21 into the position shown in full lines in FIGURE 8 is resorted to in the same manner as that of the carrier in FIGURE 1 so as to permit the insertion of a key such as B.

The key B will of course likewise be contacted by the positioner 22 and maintained in any given position either extending outwardly from the key holder itself or folded in and alongside the body 20.

As will be readily understood from a consideration of the figures in relation to this particular form, a number of keys may be carried in this particular key holder with the various latching instrumentalities being identical and subject to similar manipulation for emplacement of keys on and removal of keys from the holder itself.

The latch member 23 of this form of the invention may be provided with an ofstanding extension such as indicated at 33 in FIGURE 12 so that manipulation of the member may be resorted to by simply rotating the same using a finger therefor or the slot 32 may be used by a suitable implement.

The manipulation resorted to is of course a shifting operation in either case, that is either in the first form of the invention described or in that just heretofore `described with certain physical modifications as will be apparent to permit the actions to be effected.

The material from which the key holders herein described may be made of course is subject to wide variation and may be of plastic or metal as seems to most suitably be desirable, with the various latching instrumentalities and function of the various parts being maintained in the relationship heretofore expressed.

I claim:

1. In a key holder of the class described, in combination, a holder body, a latch carrier spaced therefrom having a movable section, a one piece latch member longitudinally shiftably connected to said section for movement to and from locked position, said member including means to engage a key intermediate the body and carrier and interengage with the body to retain the key, and means permitting .separation of said latch member from said body.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein means are provided intermediate the section and body to contact such key and position the same with respect thereto.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein the section of the carrier is of resilient construction to facilitate manipulation of the section for engaging such key.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein the section of the carrier is of resilient construction to facilitate manipulation of the section for engaging such key, and the positioning means is also resilient.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latch member includes a latching portion, the body includes a latch area for releasable interengagement by the portion when the member is shifted.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 5, wherein the latch member includes a post for cooperation with an opening in a key, and the latching portion is at one end of the post, and a control part at the other end of the post to effect the shifting action described.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,649,402 ll/ 1927 Gildemeister -457 1,859,276 5/1932 Bates 70-456 2,589,571 3/1952 Queen 70-456 2,684,096 7/1954 Snell 150-40 3,053,072 9/1962 Morris 70-456 PATRICK A. CLIFFORD, Primary Examiner. BOBBY R. GAY, Examiner. P. TEITELBAUM, Assistenz Examiner. 

1. IN A KEYWAY HOLDER OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, IN COMBINATION, A HOLDER BODY, A LATCH CARRIER SPACED THEREFROM HAVING A MOVABLE SECTION, A ONE PIECE LATCH MEMBER LONGITUDINALLY SHIFTABLY CONNECTED TO SAID SECTION FOR MOVEMENT TO AND FROM LOCKED POSITION, SAID MEMBER INCLUDING MEANS TO ENGAGE A KEY INTERMEDIATE THE BODY AND CARRIER AND INTERENGAGE WITH THE BODY TO RETAIN THE KEY, AND MEANS PERMITTING SEPARATION OF SAID LATCH MEMBER FROM SAID BODY. 